This Blog is for players and collectors of traditional War Games. It provides information and commentary about older board games from publishers such as TAHGC, SPI, and GDW. Most of the titles discussed here are out of print and available only in the resale market. Still, I hope that the various posts, game descriptions, book reviews, critiques, and other hobby-related material that I present are of interest to those players who still appreciate and play some of the older “classic” games.

WAR IN THE EAST, 2nd Edition (II) is an operational level simulation, based on the KURSK Game System, of World War II on the Eastern Front. WAR IN THE EAST II was published as an updated replacement for SPI’s original, 1974 version of the same title. Besides incorporating a number of new design concepts and game features, this second edition is also the East Front companion game to WAR IN THE WEST and, when combined with its West Front counterpart, forms WAR IN EUROPE. This second edition game version was designed by James F. Dunnigan and published by Simulations Publications, Incorporated (SPI) in 1976.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The greatest military campaign ever embarked upon began at 0300 hours on 22 June 1941 with a massive German offensive — codenamed Operation "Barbarossa" — along the entire length of the western Soviet frontier from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The Russo-German War, 1941-45, would ultimately rage — on a scale never seen before or since — from above the Arctic Circle in the North, to the Caucasus Mountains in the South. It would also turn out to be the largest, most destructive and most brutal military campaign in modern European history.

The stakes for both sides in this struggle could not have been higher: control of the vast natural and agricultural resources of the Soviet Union. An Axis victory would have destroyed the Soviet State and plunged the Russian people into conditions of indescribable misery. A German victory would also have established Nazi hegemony over virtually all of mainland Europe, and vastly prolonged, if not changed the course of the Second World War. It should be noted that, in the years since the end of World War II, many observers have commented that the Russo-German War essentially pitted one murderous scoundrel, Hitler, against another, Stalin. Be that as it may, history also shows that however desperate the condition of the Russian people was under Stalin, it would have become immeasurably worse under a racist, exploitative, and murderous German occupation.

DESCRIPTION

WAR IN THE EAST II is a historical simulation, at the brigade/division/corps level, of the Russo-German War, 1941-45. This War began with a stunningly successful series of Luftwaffe air attacks against virtually all of the Soviet air forces and their bases in the west. These surprise Axis bombing raids were followed, almost immediately, by a massive attack by 4,500,000 German and allied troops against a Russian force of nearly 3,500,000. Mistrustful of Hitler's intentions in the east, Stalin had ordered these powerful Russian armies to the west in order to shield the Soviet Union's long and vulnerable frontier with the bordering territories of Hitler's Third Reich and its Axis Satellites. When the Germans struck, the Russian forces were woefully unprepared. For this reason, the Soviet frontier armies that received the brunt of the initial German assaults would, for the most part, be smashed within a few weeks of the invasion; and, tragically, few of the Russian soldiers who faced the initial Axis onslaught would survive to see the end of the war, almost four years hence. Players can refight part or all of this titanic conflict by refighting one of the comparatively short (one campaign season) scenarios or by slugging it out to the bitter end in the much-longer Campaign Game. Despite the game's size, most combat units are divisions (for the Axis) and corps (for the Soviets). This design approach makes for a very interesting and richly-detailed simulation; and, although WAR IN THE EAST, 2nd Ed. is operational in scale, it is actually strategic in scope and concept.

WAR IN THE EAST II is played in weekly game turns; and for those familiar with the KURSK family of games, the turn sequence is both familiar and easy to execute. A typical game turn in WAR IN THE EAST II begins with a Joint Tactical Air War turn prior to the game turn proper. Once this 'Joint Air War' segment is completed, each player turn then proceeds to the following phases: the Reinforcement/Replacement phase; Initial Movement phase; Rail Movement phase; Sea Movement phase; Air Movement phase; Combat phase; Mechanized Movement phase; and Air Interdiction phase. At the end of every fourth game turn, both players execute the operations called for in the strategic cycle. These are: the Axis Reinforcement phase; and the Soviet Production phase. Although this outline of the turn sequence may suggest that play is cumbersome and slow, the typical game turn actually moves logically and relatively quickly. As an added plus, the game tracks make all of these operations easier, and a minimum of bookkeeping is required to keep track of production and other game routines during play.

WAR IN THE EAST II offers four standard scenarios: the Barbarossa Scenario; the Stalingrad Scenario; the Kursk Scenario; and the Destruction of Army Group Center Scenario. In addition, players may opt to begin the Campaign Game at any of these historical junctures, as campaign deployment information is furnished for each.

A PERSONAL OBSERVATION

When SPI published the original WAR IN THE EAST in 1974, it represented a real leap forward in game design. First, it was big — really BIG! More importantly, however, it took the popular and well-tested KURSK Game System and added a number of exciting new game concepts. WAR IN THE EAST introduced numerous innovations — many of which we now take for granted — such as (modern) infantry forced marching, conversion of infantry units to static fortification units, specialized Soviet anti-tank gun units, ranged Soviet artillery, and most importantly: player programmed Soviet Production of combat units. For the first time — thanks to the new Russian Production rules — the Soviet commander could decide on precisely which types of forces he wanted, and then go ahead and actually produce them. Of course, because of this revolutionary new design concept, the Soviet player suddenly had not only to execute his regular move, he also had to choose the exact mix of air units, artillery, anti-tank guns, railroad repair units, infantry, cavalry, mechanized, and tank units that he wanted in order to prosecute his overall war aims. The introduction of specific Soviet Population Centers, Arms Centers, and Training Centers also added an important element to the strategic focus of the game. Now, for instance, there were logical reasons for the Wehrmacht to drive on Moscow, or to attempt to capture Leningrad or Stalingrad, beyond the usual German need to eliminate an abstract and arbitrary source of Soviet replacements, or the lame requirement that: “the rules say you have to in order to win.”

WAR IN THE EAST II takes an already excellent game design and improves on it in subtle, but important ways. The units are better differentiated, more colorful, and more varied in type (one example: the better-equipped Waffen SS units are now stronger and colored black). The maps have been completely redone: they are now colored, inaccuracies have been corrected, and additional types of terrain have been included. In addition, the rules governing logistics, particularly for the Germans, have been greatly improved. Baltic ports, once captured, can now be used (once converted) as independent supply sources; and because of the introduction of mobile “supply heads,” advancing German forces now have much more flexibility with their supply lines than in the old version. And finally, the Soviet Production process has been streamlined and made much simpler by the elimination of individual Production Tracks, and their replacement by a single Soviet Production Spiral.

WAR IN THE EAST, 2nd Edition is a great game in its own right; but beyond that, it is also one-half of the biggest, most detailed monster game published prior to the expansion of the Europa series by GDW. Thirty-two years after it first appeared, WAR IN THE EAST II is still a monster by contemporary standards. But, despite the passage of three decades, it really isn’t outdated. In my opinion, it still remains both a terrific game, and a fascinating challenge to play.
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Back in the late 1970s I played the full campaign game solo, from start to finish. I was unemployed at the time which is why I was able to see it through. I haven't had it out of the box since, but it had such an impact on me that I haven't forgotten the experience. The Germans won by the middle of 1942 IIRC, but I was playing every pro-German option (e.g. being kind to the Ukrainians generated extra divisions I think)! From the German point of view I remember the dreaded mud season approaching when I knew in advance that I wouldn't be able to move anywhere. Soviet side memories are of the production spiral, not deploying any airpower until it outnumbered the Luftwaffe, and wondering where to start trying to form my fortified lines once the frontier was breached. So, only played once, and that was over 30 years ago, but I have really good memories of this game. Must get it out again before it's too late!

Yes, I know what you mean; I still have fond memories of a number of the older 'monster' games, and "WAR IN THE EAST" (both editions) and DNO/UNT (despite their various problems and inaccuracies) are at or near the top of my list.

I was fortunate, in my younger days, to belong to a group of avid gamers who were all former college classmates, so rounding up skilled opponents willing to take on some of these 'monsters' was usually not particularly difficult. And although I have sold-off a great many of my games, over the last few years, I still retain copies of my old favorites, even now.

Hello Joseph. Thanks for your kind reply. I'm sorry that I have been recorded as Anon, but I didn't see where to leave my name. I have only just discovered your site and it really brings back memories. I live in the UK and was an avid collector and player of SPI games in the late 70s and early 80s. Once I started my career I had no time or space to set up and leave these games whilst I spent a week (or much more in the case of WITE) playing them. So I moved on to miniatures and shorter games and have stuck with them ever since. I still have every SPI game from those years and I will now explore your site to see what you have to say about some of my other favourites (Op. Cobra, Panzergruppe Guderian, World War I, World War II, Ney v Wellington etc.)

In so far as your short list of SPI favorites goes: I have commented, at varying length, on all of them. In fact, all of the S&T Magazine games made it onto my list of "Top 20" titles. In addition, even the much maligned "WORLD WAR II" received relatively favorable treatment at my hands.

Thanks again for taking the time to visit my site and to comment on my posts and

I think that you'll find your new game a very interesting challenge, even playing solitaire. I will suggest one thing -- based on my own extensive experience with these monsters -- that you invest in a "Hepa" filter so that you don't end up with a game map and counters covered with layers of dust after a couple of months sitting out on your game table.

In any case, good luck with your new gaming project and Best Regards, Joe

About Me

I am an Army veteran of the Viet Nam War who retired from a career as a horse trainer and riding instructor in 2006. Since the late 1960’s, I have been an amateur student of military history, and an avid collector and player of traditional (map and counters) war games. Over the years, I have competed in a number of board gaming tournaments, and have won two WBC Championship titles in Afrika Korps, and five in Waterloo. Besides war games and history, my other interests include veterans’ affairs and Poker.
I presently live with my wife of over thirty years in Phoenix, Arizona. I am a graduate of Reed College and formerly attended graduate school at Arizona State University.